Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-11-19
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character and initiated them' We
would not need to be very careful OF
our example but unfortunately for
us, the crooked things in our lives are
more apt to secure the imitation OF
others than the things that are en-
tirely correct. A gentleman sent
cracked plate to China as sample
of the plates he wanted, and the
Chinese initiated it perfectly, for
every plate he received from them
had the crack in it. So in initiating
our fellow men we are apt to get
their imperfections in ous own lives.
The good instruction will not
counterfeit the bad example The
little child said TO the father who
was trying to teach him to pray,
"Why do you want me to pray, pa ?
l never see you pray"
The bad example weakens every
other kind CT instruction The best
instruction loses all its force when
communicated by persons whose
lives do not correspond with it. For
that reason the life OF the ministry
and the character of the teacher
should harmonic with the truths
they would impart. The immoral
teacher ought to be as rare as the inn
moral clergyman. Nor can the par
ent who would impart religious
knowledge to his children be regard
less of his character. Says Tillot-
son ITO give children good in
struction and bad examples, is but
reckoning to them with the head to
show them the way to heaven, while
you take them by the hand to lead
them in the way of hell"
A good example gives new beauty
and power to truth. 1t was said to
DR.. Goodel, the missionary: "The
daily walk Of such men as yourself
shows what moral beauty there is in
the true Christian character An
English nobleman leaving the house
where the pious Fenelon resided, re.
marked 81 could stay no longer. If
/ did | should become pious in spite
of myself" 1t was said Of John
Kebe, author of the "ChriSiian
Year." 'sThe holiness and consis-
tency of his daily life were so mary
elous, that it was impossible to live
under his roof without receiving
profounder impressions of the power
of religion
Said Hume, the infdel, Of an earn
est Christian young man: "There is
an argument for Christianity which |
cannot answer. / have, as | think,
fairly met and answered every ether
argument. But that young mans
consistent life is something which |
do not pretend to answer" A Roman
Catholic priest remarked that he
would willingly change his faith if
all Protestants were like ODerlin.
Says Christlieb: "rhe strongest ar
gumcnt for the truth of Christianity
is the true Christian, the man filed
with the spirit of Christ"
1t may seem hard for us to live up
to our own resolutions and teachings
on this subject, but it is worth a
trial. We have the theory, and if
we should put it into practice it will
give increased power to all we teach
and do. When we find a character
where this correspondence of teach
ing and life is seen, we ought to APP
preciate it. Such man must make
an impression for good upon others.
DIR. Guthrie, the eminent Scoth minis
ter, tells the impressions he received
from a car-driver when asked to
drink, who said II am a teetotaler.
and | won't taste a drop of it," Said
he: "Well, that stuck in my throat,
and it went to my heart, and to my
head. He was an humble, unculti-
waited. uneducated Roman Catholic
carman, and | said, if that man can
deny himself this indulgence, why
should not the Christian ministerW